The Duchess of Cambridge celebrated a landmark birthday this Sunday as she turned 40. Though the royals don’t let out much about their private lives, we’ve been given a small peek into how the duchess brought in this milestone. Let’s take a look at how the ever-graceful Kate Middleton’s birthday was memorialised this year.
The Portraits
The first step in commemorating Kate Middleton’s birthday was the release of three, very special, new official portraits. The elegant photographs were captured by Italian fashion photographer Paolo Roversi at Kew Gardens in November. Each portrait features a different ballgown, all by British luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen. This is a sentimental touch by duchess. It was Alexander McQueen’s creative director, Sarah Burton, who designed Kate’s wedding dress back when her and Prince William tied the knot in 2011.
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It is said that the pearl earrings Kate wears in that breathtaking side portrait once belonged to Lady Di, while the diamond earrings were apparently loaned by the Queen.
The trio of portraits will form part of the National Portrait Gallery’s project titled Coming Home. Kate is patron to the Gallery and has also shown great enthusiasm and eye for photography in the last years. Kate’s birthday portraits will be displayed in three locations that hold special meaning for Kate. According to Kensington Palace they are: Berkshire where she grew up, St. Andrew’s where she attended university and began her relationship with the Prince, and Anglesey where they lived together just before and into the start of their marriage.
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The big day
The actual day had no where near as much glamour as the portraits released to honour Kate Middleton’s birthday. Famously private, Kate’s birthday celebrations have always been rather intimate and low-key. Especially since the last 10 years have seen her become part of the British royal family, take on a role in public service and become a mother of three!
Like many birthdays before this, Kate spent the day with her husband Prince William and their three children – George, Charlotte and William – at Amner Hall, their country home in Norfolk. A source of the Daily Mail’s commented that ‘She didn’t want anything flashy anyway – that’s not exactly her thing – but particularly given the current climate anything is likely to be scaled down.’
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Cover image from the official Instagram account of Kate and William – @dukeandduchessofcambridge – photographed by Alex Bramall. Found here.
